Hydriastele aprica
Hydriastele (high-dree-Ah-STEL-eh) aprica (ah-PREE-kah) | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Distribution:—Northern central New Guinea.Habitat:—Montane forest on sun-exposed limestone ridges, 300–1200 m. PETER PETOE, CHARLIE D. HEATUBUN & WILLIAM J. BAKER Phytotaxa 370 (1) © 2018 Magnolia Press.
Description
Solitary, slender palm to 5 m tall, bearing about 7 leaves in crown. Stem about 3 cm in diam. Leaf 48–80 cm long including petiole; sheath 21–23 cm long; petiole 12–18 cm long; leaflets 15–23 per side, irregularly arranged, drooping, cuneate, concavely praemorse apically, with ramenta present on the abaxial side of the midrib. Inflorescence 15–26 cm long including 3.2–5.5 cm peduncle, branched to 1 order, protandrous; rachillae 4–6; triads opposite and decussate. Staminate flower 3–7 × 0.5–3 mm in bud (when dry), cream with purplish tips; stamens 6. Pistillate flower 1.5–7 × 1–2 mm in bud (when dry), dark purple, with free sepals and petals with long and thin, valvate tips. Fruit about 8 × 7 mm, subglobose, red, apical stigmatic remains not seen. Seed about 5 × 4 mm; endosperm homogeneous. PETER PETOE, CHARLIE D. HEATUBUN & WILLIAM J. BAKER Phytotaxa 370 (1) © 2018 Magnolia Press.
Culture
Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b
Comments and Curiosities
Notes:—Hydriastele aprica is a highly distinctive, slender palm immediately recognisable on account of its drooping leaflets with concavely praemorse tips. The species is further distinguished by being the only member of the Nengella group with decussately arranged triads. We note that the habitat preference of this species is also unusual within the genus. More details are given by Young (1985) and Heatubun et al. (2018). PETER PETOE, CHARLIE D. HEATUBUN & WILLIAM J. BAKER Phytotaxa 370 (1) © 2018 Magnolia Press.
External Links
References
Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.
Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.
Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos.
Glossary of Palm Terms; Based on the glossary in Dransfield, J., N.W. Uhl, C.B. Asmussen-Lange, W.J. Baker, M.M. Harley & C.E. Lewis. 2008. Genera Palmarum - Evolution and Classification of the Palms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All images copyright of the artists and photographers (see images for credits).
PETER PETOE, CHARLIE D. HEATUBUN & WILLIAM J. BAKER Phytotaxa 370 (1) © 2018 Magnolia Press.
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.